Wire-stretcher.



J. HARRISON.

WIRE STRETOHER.

APPLICATION-FILED JULY 12, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

lnve ntor fizz/1227f a3,

1 Attorneys JAMES HARRISON, OF ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2c, 1913.

Application filed. July 12, 1912. Serial No. 709,100.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns HARRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Anderson and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and'useful Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire stretchers, and particularly to those employed in stretching fence wires.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a wire stretcher of utmost simplicity, which shall also be substantial, durable and inexpensive in construction as well as convenient, serviceable and effective in its use.

The present invention also aims to provide a wire stretcher embodying a lever having fence post engaging means at one end in order that the end of the lever may-be engaged to a fence post in order to provide-a fulcrum for the lever, the lever being pro vided with means at intervals along its length for clamping fence wires in order that a plurality of fence wires may be stretched at one time.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters have been employed to denote corresponding parts, and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the present wire stretcher. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the wire clamp. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the wire clamp taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the lever has been designated by the numeral 4, the same consisting of a fiat bar of suitable metal, provided at one end with a spur or spear point 5 and a complementing bill or hook 6, which point and bill provide fence post engaging means. At its other end, the bar 4 is provided with a handle socket 7, which is designed to receive the end of a suitable handle 8, which may be of wood or other suitable material. Any suitable piece of timber at hand may be employed for the handle 8, so that the handle does ,not form anessential part of the wire stretcher.

The lever 4 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 9 at intervals along its length, the said slots runninglongitudinally of the lever and being provided with angular ends extending toward one edge of the lever and providing notches 10.

A plurality of chains 11 are connected to the lever 4 at intervals along its length and have clamping devices 12 attached to their free ends, the said chains including the swivel connections 13. The inner link 14 of each chain is engaged through the corresponding. slot 9 in the lever 4 and may be slid longitudinally in the corresponding slot to engage in either of the notches 10. This adjustment of the chains will permit the chains to be set to accommodate the spacing of the various fence wires.

Each of the clamping devices embodies a circular plate 15 having a convexed center portion 16 struck out from one face thereof and having a boss 17 projecting from the center of the said convex portion, the said plate also being provided with a segmental shaped jaw 18 projecting from one edge thereof, and a cam plate 19 having a concaved portion 20 and a socket 21 receiving the convex portion and boss, respectively, of the plate 15. The cam plate cooperates or coacts with the jaw 18 to receive a wire therebetween, the periphery of the cam plate 19 being provided with ratchet teeth 23 for securely gripping the wire and the cam plate also being provided with a radial lever or handle 24 for manually turning the same. The plate 15 is also provided with an ear to which the corresponding chain 11 is attached. The plates 15 and 19 are pivoted together by means of a rivet or pin 22 passing through the boss and socket of the corresponding plates, the particular shape of the plates relieving the rivet of any serious strain and providing for other manifest advantages.

In use, the links 14 are engaged in the proper notches 10 to accommodate the spacing of the wires, and the wires are then clamped between the cam plates 19 and the jaws 18 of the respective clamping devices, it being noted that the cam plates in revolving will securely grip the wires. The outer end of the lever 4 may then be engaged to as to provide a fulcrum for the lever. The

lever can be manually swung by means of the handle 8 inserted into the socket 7, so that the various fence wires may be tightened and When sufiiciently tightened may be secured in position to the fence posts, as will be apparent. The wires may be released by swinging the cam plates 19 backward, in which event, the stretcher Will be free for repeated use; It will therefore be observed that the present device may be readily manipulated to stretch a plurality of fence wires at onetime, and in a convenient and efficient manner.

' The'present device is a most simple one and may be readily conveyed about or stored within a'small compass, the device {lot being cumbersome to handle or manipuate. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is t 1. A wire stretcher'embodying a lever comprising a flat bar having post engaging notches at the ends of the slots directed towardone edge of the bar, a plurality of chains having links engaging through the various slots, and a wire clamp secured to the free end of each chain.

2. A wire stretcher embodying a lever comprising a flat bar of metal having a com plementing spear point and bill at one end, and a handle socket at the other end, the bar having a plurality of longitudinal slots therein at intervals along its length with notches at the ends of the slots directed toward one edge of the bar, and a plurality of chains having links engaging through the various slots, and a wire clamp secured to the free end of each chain.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, JAMES HARRISON. Witnesses:

W. Y. MILLER, R. D. EARLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

